For most part of his managerial career, Sir Alex Ferguson simply disregarded Manchester City as an unwanted nuisance. ‘Noisy neighbours’ were there to be ignored. Not to be taken seriously. His sole challengers were Liverpool who he vowed to knock off their perch. Later the Red Devils also developed a rivalry with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal but the influx of oil money into the Premier League changed all that.
The announcement that Manchester City has now secured the signature of the most coveted manager in world football, however, tilts the power scales in not just Manchester but all over England.
With Chelsea reeling under Jose Mourinho's catastrophic second season, Arsenal being Arsenal and Liverpool and Manchester United stumbling through their rebuilds; City have taken a big step towards becoming the next football powerhouse from the British Isles.
For the last twenty years the red half of Manchester has had the best manager in England; now it will be the blue half’s turn.
Pep Guardiola brings with him an aura so far lacking at Manchester City. The Spaniard has managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich, two clubs with history, something the club’s Abu Dhabi based owners simply can't buy. But they are determined to build one, and Guardiola represents the beginning of an era for the ‘Citizens’.
It is the most pivotal moment in the club's history. They have too often been seen as yet another cash-rich football club lacking identity and direction. Now, City can potentially become a force in European football. The club has the money and now in Guardiola a manager who can attract the top names.
A three-year contract seems a bit short-term but it is something that can change in a year or two. For Pep, this is a gamble too. Premier League is much more competitive than the La Liga or the Bundesliga, and the Catalan will experience and enjoy that competitiveness – Klopp has already sounded a warning to his old rival.
The die is cast. The ball is now in the court of Manchester United’s owners and CEO. The club has indicated that they have known for some time that Guardiola was City-bound. What then was their plan to counter this development? What is Woodward’s long-term vision for United who are struggling to retain their past glory despite the lucrative sponsorship deals he keeps cracking.
The Glazers too are under the spotlight once again. Louis van Gaal is beginning to lose support of the fans and most now believe that handing the reins over to Ryan Giggs would just be naïve with managers like Klopp and Guardiola joining the league.
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